17 Things You Didn't Know About Mardi Gras

Whether you've visited New Orleans during carnival season or not, there's a lot to learn about the celebration leading up to fat Tuesday. Read up on some of the most interesting history, trivia, and fun Mardi Gras facts before you laissez les bon temps rouler. Plus, get our most festive Mardi Gras recipes!

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1"Laissez les bon temps rouler" is the official greeting of Mardi Gras.

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You'll hear laissez les bon temps rouler (pronounced lay-say le bon tom roo-lay) over and over again at Mardi Gras celebrations. It means "let the good times roll" in Cajun French. We can get behind that idea!

2Carnival season begins much earlier than many realize.

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In New Orleans, carnival season begins on Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day. Many smaller parades are hosted leading up to the 12-day parading period. But the last five days make up the main weekend (from Thursday night until the morning of fat Tuesday) when the largest parades run back-to-back.

3Each parade is run by a different krewe.

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While some krewes have been hosting Mardi Gras parades for years, others have formed more recently. Most are named after Roman or Greek mythology.

Some are easy to join via an application, while others have long wait lists to get in. You will likely have to spend a little change, regardless, as these private organizations charge yearly memberships.

4It’s illegal to not wear a mask onboard a float.

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It’s not just a tradition—it’s the law! Everyone on the float must wear a mask or paint their face. The practice was originally started to encourage people to mingle and talk to those outside of your social circle.

5Krewes choose a different theme for their parades each year.

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Each float in a Mardi Gras parade is decorated differently to fit into a central theme, which can be anything from literature to humor. And they don't waste any time getting to work: Most start on the following year's floats as soon as fat Tuesday is over.

6The tradition of parading dates back to 1856.

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Historians believe Mardi Gras arrived in North America in 1699 and then spread to New Orleans in 1718. The Mistick Krewe of Comus was the first to roll floats about 60 miles from New Orleans in 1856. Krewe of Rex was the first of the type of parade krewes we see today.

7Each krewe has a system of royalty.

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According to How Stuff Works, each parade kicks off with the krewe leader. Next comes the king or queen, followed by the maids and dukes, before the rest of the members.

8If you want to keep Mardi Gras family friendly, avoid the French Quarter.

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You may assume that Mardi Gras is one wild party, but there are some spots you can go that are family friendly, too. Try finding an area along the parade route uptown if you're looking for a more PG experience.

9Mentioning one phrase will score you beads at parades.

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Just use the magic words: "Throw me something, mister!" as floats pass by, and watch as krewe members happily toss you beads and toys.

10Want to ride on a float? It will cost you.

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In addition to paying a membership fee, krewe members dish out major cash for beads, costumes, security, clean-up crews, and Mardi Gras balls year after year. Luckily, many krewes allow members to take a break for a year, as long as they send a friend to ride (and pay) in their place.

11Mardi Gras has rarely been canceled in New Orleans.

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While rain delays are common, the event has only been canceled a handful of times, such as during the two World Wars and an outbreak of Yellow Fever in the 1870s, according to Double-Barrelled Travel.

12Beads aren't the only things you can score for free at Mardi Gras parades.

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Yes, your neck will inevitably hurt from the dozens of strands of beads you score at your first Mardi Gras parade. But seasoned pros know that there's more to covet than these necklaces. At Krewe of Muses, the first all-girl krewe, spectators look for rare bedazzled shoes, while painted coconuts are the big prize at Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club. If you're after one of these throws, stand as close to the float as possible—krewe members won't throw anything too heavy to avoid hurting spectators.

13King Cake is an indicator that carnival season has arrived.

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During Mardi Gras season in New Orleans, king cakes are ubiquitous. Each pastry is hiding a tiny plastic baby inside—tradition holds that if you find the baby inside your slice of cake, you'll be bringing king cake to the next gathering.

14Mardi Gras isn't only celebrated in New Orleans.

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The Big Easy may be home to one of the most well known celebrations, but plenty of other places have their own takes on this festival. The first Carnival celebration originated in Nice, France while Rio de Janeiro, Quebec City and Trinidad and Tobago all have their own celebrations as well. Looking for a more local way to celebrate Mardi Gras? Head to Mobile, Alabama or St. Louis, Missouri.

15You may look forward to the parades, but the real treat for krewe members comes later.

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Sure, anyone can attend a parade, but scoring an invite to an elaborate Mardi Gras ball is more exclusive.

16The Mardi Gras colors are green, gold, and purple—and each have hidden meanings.

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Green represents faith, gold symbolizes power, and purple is justice.

17Mardi Gras sometimes overlaps with the Super Bowl.

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When New Orleans hosted the Super Bowl in 2013, some called the celebration "Super Gras." The 12-day parade season was extended so that no parades would run on the day of the Big Game.

Rebecca ShinnersSocial Media EditorRebecca is the social media editor at CountryLiving.com and WomansDay.com.

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